Miter saw with top table

Abstract

A saw assembly has a fixed fence and a moveable fence. The fixed fence has a groove for receiving a tongue of the moveable fence. The tongue of the moveable fence has a first groove and a second groove for controlling a range of movement of the moveable fence relative to the fixed fence.

1. A saw comprising:
 a base assembly having a slot; 
 a motor unit pivotally mounted to the base assembly to allow the motor unit to pivot about a first axis towards the base assembly to perform a cutting operation, the motor unit having a motor, a spindle driven by the motor, and a blade mounted to the spindle and extending through the slot when performing the cutting operation; 
 a fixed fence mounted on the base assembly, the fixed fence having a groove for receiving a movable fence; 
 the movable fence having a tongue which is slidably received in the groove of the fixed fence, the tongue having a first groove extending along an axis, the first groove having a first depth and first and second ends, and a second groove adjacent to and coaxial with the first groove, the second groove beginning at the second end and having a second depth and a third end, where the first depth is different than the second depth; 
 a fence locking mechanism for locking the movable fence relative to the fixed fence, the fence locking mechanism having a member movable to enter the first and second grooves, wherein the member is movable to a first member position where the member can contact the first and second ends of the first groove allowing the movable fence to move relative to the fixed fence along a first range of movement but not allowing the movable fence to move beyond the second end, and the member being movable to a second member position where the member can contact the first end of the first groove and the third end of the second groove allowing the movable fence to move relative to the fixed fence along a second range of movement, wherein the second range of movement is longer than the first range of movement. 
 
     
     
       2. The saw of  claim 1 , wherein the first range of movement is defined by a first fence position at a first distance from the blade and a second fence position at a second distance longer than the first distance from the blade, and the second range of movement is defined by the second fence position and a third fence position at a third distance shorter than the first distance from the blade, the third fence position being closer to the motor unit than the first position. 
     
     
       3. The saw of  claim 1 , wherein the member is movable to a third member position not entering the first and second grooves. 
     
     
       4. The saw of  claim 3 , wherein the movable fence is removable from the fixed fence when the member is in the third member position. 
     
     
       5. The saw of  claim 1 , wherein the member is movable to a third member position where the member locks the position of the movable fence relative to the fixed fence.